Let's face it; sitting in an RV for 5-6 hours in a
given day isn't conducive to good health. Muscles aren't worked, and
the only cardio you might get is driving down a series of 7 degree
mountain switchbacks in your Class A RV dragging a toad.
But once
you get to your campsite, it's time to stretch those muscles and see
the world around you. National Parks offer lots of ways to do that, with
hiking trails and attractions that may require stairs or steps.
Campgrounds also offer ways to keep in shape. Some have full-fledged
fitness centers, or RVers can simply take a stroll around the
campground, which is a great way to say "Hi" to your new neighbors, and
maybe meet some new friends. Riding a bike is also great exercise in and
out of campgrounds, but bikes can be a problem when it comes to storage
in an RV, where space is at a premium.
Barbara and I have been
researching bikes for about the last year or so, mainly to improve our
overall fitness as we get older, but also looking at what would work for
us traveling full-time in our future Open Road 36LA motor home. There
are a few ways to travel with bikes; bike racks can be attached to a
two-way trailer hitch right above the attachment for your toad (towed
vehicle). With road conditions being what they are today, and weather
issues along the way, you have to find a good, sturdy bike rack and a
quality cover to keep them clean and safe. Some folks will also install a
bike rack on the roof of their toad, which would be an impossibility
for us with our Mini Cooper convertible. Finally, others will opt to
simply attach their bikes to the ladder used for roof access on the
motor home. Not only does it look bad, but the jarring the rear end
takes on some highways can weaken the attachment of the ladder to the
RV, potentially creating an accident on the road, or when trying to
perform some simple maintenance on the roof.
Enter the folding bike.
Now,
there are lots of folding bikes on the market today, and they have
their benefits and drawbacks. Many you will find are what are called
"campground bikes", which have smaller wheels and limited speeds, since
they are designed for riding on primarily level surfaces. Some of these
style bikes are being modified to also have battery power, which extends
their range and uses, but these come with a weight cost as batteries
are heavy. And weight is a big safety concern for motor homes. One
recently reviewed by a friend of ours came in at over 40 lbs!
We
opted to look for a more traditional bike that could fold down
relatively small; something with lots of gears for riding on roads and
trails, but small enough to pack into the back seat of the Mini if we
wanted to take them somewhere, because there is NO room in the boot
(Mini refuses to call a trunk a trunk) to throw a bike in the Mini. But
you CAN put things in the back seat.
The only choice for us was a
product from Montague, specifically, the Montague Urban. It's a full
sized bike with 21 speeds, slightly wider tires to handle some off-road
riding, but narrow and smooth enough to be comfortable on the road.
Weighs only 25 lbs. It also has an innovative "rack stand", a storage
rack which releases and rotates underneath the back tire to keep your
bike upright without a kickstand. And the best thing is that it folds
into something half it's size, and just 12" deep, so it can fit inside
one of the basement compartments going down the road where it is secure
from those who might wish to relieve us of our cycling burden. It also
has a convenient carrying bag which will protect the interior of the
Mini from grease and gouges when we want to take them places outside of
where we're staying.
I had forgotten how much fun riding a bike
can be. The Montague Urban reminded me of it. Below are pictures of the
bike open, closed and all bagged up.
For more information on the Urban, and the rest of the innovative line of Montague bikes, click here.
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